章 231: Miyako Shiba

Within the 13th Division, strength dictated one's standing. It was, after all, the division responsible for purifying Hollows that infiltrated the World of the Living. Without a certain level of prowess, facing multiple Hollows simultaneously could easily overwhelm even seasoned Shinigami.

Miyako Shiba had always assumed Rukia Kuchiki was weak. However, Rukia's recent display of power, while perhaps not on par with her late husband, Kaien Shiba, was undeniably superior to her own. This realization filled Miyako with bewilderment. Why would someone with such strength willingly endure the mistreatment of their subordinates?

"Well…" Rukia chuckled wryly, responding to Miyako's question.

"Third Seat, it's not that I don't want to show my strength, but… their rejection hasn't reached a level where I feel the need to use force."

"Besides…" Rukia's expression softened as she looked at Miyako, her concern warming her heart. "The swordsmanship I practice… it's not very 'friendly' towards my opponents. If I were to use it against my fellow Shinigami, I fear it might leave them with psychological scars, potentially hindering their growth…"

"What? Swordsmanship that can hinder someone's growth?"

Miyako was astonished. While she wasn't a swordsmanship expert, she knew it was a highly refined form of combat, demanding years of dedicated practice. A Shinigami who mastered "Kendo," their swordsmanship would be unmatched by ordinary Shinigami.

But a Kendo that could leave psychological scars and weaken opponents? Miyako'a curiosity was piqued.

"Rukia, you're too kind. Always thinking of others… That's why they treat you so poorly." Miyako sighed.

"Tell you what, Rukia. If you want to practice your swordsmanship, you can come to me, or to Kaien. I believe that with our strength, we can at least serve as adequate sparring partners."

Rukia hesitated. "Third Seat, wouldn't that be too much trouble? Lieutenant Shiba is always so busy. If I were to ask for his help, it would be a burden. Besides, my swordsmanship…"

"Rukia…" Miyako interrupted. "Perhaps you don't understand yet, but for a Shinigami, strength is paramount. Never allow anything to hinder your growth… Never…"

Miyako's gaze held a hint of sadness, a reflection of her own experiences.

"Otherwise, when something unexpected happens, you'll find that without sufficient strength, you're powerless to change anything…"

Indeed, both she and Kaien were too weak. If Kaien possessed captain-level strength, many of their problems would cease to exist. The Shiba Clan…

"Besides, Rukia," she continued, "you said your swordsmanship could weaken your opponents. Well, wouldn't that mean that if someone overcame your techniques, their strength would increase even further?"

"Oh?"

Rukia pondered Miyako's words. Her "Data Kendo" could analyze an opponent's every move, predicting their actions and exploiting their weaknesses. But if someone managed to break free from that predictive cage, to transcend the data she had collected, their strength would undoubtedly soar.

She nodded. "Indeed, if someone could overcome my 'Data Kendo,' their strength would increase tremendously. But…"

Rukia wanted to explain that the more she understood "Data Kendo," the more she realized how difficult it was for someone to escape its grasp. Even if they did, wouldn't she simply create a new data model, even more accurate than the previous one, based on their newfound strength?

"Tremendous growth is all that matters," Miyako smiled. "I'll speak to Kaien when I get back. We'll make time to help you train."

"But…"

"Don't refuse, Rukia. If you feel guilty, just consider it repayment for saving my life."

"Thank you, Third Seat. And… Lieutenant Shiba."

…

Miyako watched Rukia depart. If not for the relentless pressure from those lurking in the shadows, she would never have considered asking Kaien to risk his strength to help Rukia train. It was a dangerous gamble, one with potentially devastating consequences.

From the moment Kaien Shiba had entered the Shin'ō Academy, he had been targeted. Miyako, along with several others, had been tasked with gathering information on him, using various methods to uncover his secrets. They had employed similar tactics against his older brother, Isshin Shiba.

Their efforts had been quite successful. Isshin, with his carefree nature and lack of guile, had unwittingly revealed many of his secrets. Of course, while Isshin might have appeared foolish, he knew what he could and couldn't reveal. He hadn't divulged any information about the Shiba Clan's main family.

In fact, upon realizing he was being monitored, Isshin had deliberately reduced his contact with the main family to protect them from any potential repercussions.

Over the years, many of Miyako's comrades had befriended Kaien. However, only she had managed to become his girlfriend, culminating in their marriage earlier that year.

Recently, the pressure from her superiors had intensified. They demanded that she uncover Kaien's true strength. It was no secret that Kaien, with his exceptional talent, was likely to achieve Bankai within a century.

Once he reached captain-level strength, their plan to seize the Shiba Clan's hidden treasure and claim a place among the great noble families of the Soul Society would be thwarted. They had to act before that happened.

Since Miyako wasn't the only one monitoring Kaien, his connection to the Shiba Clan's main family had been exposed.

Through their time together, Miyako had grown fond of Kaien. However, she couldn't ignore the reality of their situation. He was simply too weak.

While Kaien was considered a powerful lieutenant, those lurking in the shadows didn't consider him a threat. As long as he hadn't achieved captain-level strength, they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him.

To become a captain, one required both talent and dedication. The noble families, despite possessing ample resources, rarely produced such individuals. They were too complacent, too accustomed to a life of privilege and luxury. As a result, aside from the five great noble clans at the pinnacle of Soul Society, few nobles had ever reached captain level.

At least, none of the families in the alliance seeking to seize the Shiba Clan's treasure possessed a captain among their ranks.

However, while they lacked a captain, they had numerous seated officers, lieutenants, and even vice-captains at their disposal. As long as Kaien remained below captain level, they wouldn't hesitate to unleash their forces upon him, even if it meant sacrificing a significant number of their subordinates. After all, for those nobles, it was merely the loss of a few expendable pawns. They, the esteemed members of those noble families, would simply reap the rewards from a safe distance.

Miyako, as a member of their organization, knew their true nature. With Kaien's current strength, he wouldn't stand a chance against such an onslaught. The Shiba Clan, one of the five great noble families with a lineage spanning centuries, might even be wiped out.

As Kaien's wife, she couldn't bear the thought of him being harmed.

But…

Her only option now was to stall for time, claiming that she hadn't yet uncovered the Shiba Clan's hidden treasure. She prayed that Kaien could learn something from Rukia's swordsmanship, something that could propel his strength to the next level.

Otherwise, once those nobles lost patience and stormed the Shiba Clan's stronghold in Rukongai, she would be branded as a traitor, the one who had led them to their downfall.

She glanced at the frozen Hollow.

"Alright, everyone, let's clean up this mess."

She then launched a signal flare into the night sky, alerting the others to their situation.

Even she understood the implications of a Hollow appearing within the Seireitei. It was an event that would send shockwaves throughout their world.

…

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The rhythmic pounding of a wooden mallet against a wooden board echoed from the 1st Division's meeting chamber, reverberating through the Seireitei, reaching every corner of their world.

"An emergency captains' meeting?"

Ailin, practicing tennis with his wife, Haruko Kuchiki, within the Kuchiki estate, frowned as he heard the summons. He wracked his brain, trying to recall any recent event that might have warranted such an urgent gathering.

He came up blank.

However, Ailin wasn't overly concerned.

While he knew the general storyline of Bleach from his previous life, having traveled to this world meant there were countless details the manga hadn't explored. This was a real world, not a fictional narrative. While the Soul King's will might have set the main events in motion, those beyond the scope of the manga were the true protagonists of their own stories. His own presence had undoubtedly altered the paths of many.